Dr. William Nelson Pope, Beloved Pioneer Surgeon At Group Health

Old-guard professionals who developed Group Health Cooperative will gather at 7 p.m. Wednesday in University Unitarian Church to honor one of their best-loved surgeons - Dr. William Nelson Pope.

A "Southern gentleman" sold on universal health care and the flat-rate medical care that Group Health pioneered, he joined the cooperative in 1952, four years after its founding.

Civil-rights and peace activists will attend his ceremony, too: Dr. Pope, who died Jan. 28 of Alzheimer's disease, championed causes dear to their hearts.

He and his first wife, Linda Easterly of Seattle, in 1948 were the only whites at an annual NAACP meeting in Georgia. He long was active in both the NAACP and American Civil Liberties Union as well as pro-peace and anti-nuclear groups.

Dr. Pope also volunteered to go to Vietnam in 1966 and 1970 to treat soldiers and civilians.

"Dad took a lot of risks for someone of his background, born in a small town in the South (Edisto, S.C.) in 1916," said his daughter, Helen Pope of Seattle. " . . . There was no reason he had to stick up for blacks, but he felt morally charged with compassion for people that are not treated as human beings in a democracy.

"He also was in two wars. He saw how they tore up people. That's why he was in peace movements. He saw war as a public-health issue."

Dr. Pope was religious, but not overbearing. He had a slow, dignified air and a sly smile. He reminded his daughter of the

lawyer-hero Atticus Finch in the novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird."

When Dr. Pope performed surgery, he addressed the whole person, not merely his or her symptoms.

Patient and friend Martha Colang, a concert pianist, praised his expertise in treating her after she was struck by a car. She suffered more than 48 broken bones, including ones in both arms. But with Dr. Pope's help - he massaged her hands when she was in a body cast - the next year she was back at Group Health, playing Christmas carols for patients.

Barbara Mercer, former Group Health evening supervisor, also noted Dr. Pope's conscientiousness.

"Before clinic would start in the morning, he was there to greet his patients," she said. "And when it closed, he came over to do dressings. I'd say, `You go home, I'll do it.' But he'd say, `Nope, I want to see for myself. It makes a patient feel better if I do it.' "

She said his patients would bring him little gifts.

"Even an elderly couple that didn't have much money but lived out on a farm brought him a dozen eggs."

His daughter said he was a responsible, loving father who enjoyed photography, the outdoors and folk dancing.

Dr. Pope graduated in 1940 from the Medical College of South Carolina, joined the U.S. Navy in 1941 and served as an assistant surgeon with the rank of lieutenant. He also was in residence at the University of Georgia and at Children's Orthopedic Hospital in Seattle before joining Group Health.

He remained a general surgeon there until diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1977.

Dr. Pope is survived by his wife, Carmel Hennessey-Pope, whom he married in 1976; his daughter and sons William T. Pope, Daniel Pope and David Pope of Seattle; and grandchildren.

Remembrances may be made to Group Health Foundation, 521 Wall St., Seattle, WA, 98121.